Chapter 02: Turning to the Human Side of Medicine: An Impeccable Diagnosis is Not Sufficient

In this chapter, Dr. Bruera begins to sketch his medical education. He begins by explaining his selection of a medical school and the education he received (MD conferred, 1979; Universidad de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina). He also speaks about professors who had a great impact on him and how he keeps their influence in mind through keepsakes in his office. He describes this as an important kind of ritual and symbolism he integrates into daily life. Next he describes shifts in his interest in medicine. He began, he explains, with a fascination with disease and how it causes processes to break down in the body. However, as his clinical experience deepened, he became more interested in \u27the person around the problem.\u27 He tells several anecdotes from his oncology training that inspired him to shift his focus (Certificate of Specialist, 1984 or 1982, Medical Oncology, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina). He explains that his director cautioned him against focusing on what was a \u27fringe area\u27 at that time.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1494/thumbnail.jp